In 1994 I was diagnosed with celiac disease, which led me to create Celiac.com in 1995. I created this site for a single purpose: To help as many people as possible with celiac disease get diagnosed so they can begin to live happy, healthy gluten-free lives. Celiac.com was the first site on the Internet dedicated solely to celiac disease. In 1998 I created The Gluten-Free Mall, Your Special Diet Superstore!, and I am the co-author of the book Cereal Killers, and founder and publisher of Journal of Gluten Sensitivity.

Celiac.com
11/12/2001 - According to a recent report published in the October
issue of the Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition
nearly 5% of US children with juvenile diabetes also have celiac
disease. Dr. Steven L. Werlin of the Medical College of Wisconsin
in Milwaukee and colleagues tested 218 patients with juvenile
diabetes and 117 matched control subjects for the IgA endomysial
antibody. Patients with positive results were offered a small
bowel biopsy. The patients symptoms were assessed via
a parent questionnaire.

Results:
Seventeen diabetic patients tested positive for the IgA endomysial
antibody, while no positive results were found among control
subjects. Fourteen of the 17 patients who tested positive underwent
a follow-up small bowel biopsy. Villous atrophy was found in
11 of the patients. Two patients had increased intraepithelial
lymphocytes without villous atrophy. Interestingly, more than
half of the patients with biopsy-proven celiac disease were
asymptomatic.

According
to Dr. Werlin, the results indicate that there is an association
between asymptomatic celiac disease and juvenile diabetes. According
to other research the treatment of the celiac disease in these
patients will make the management of their diabetes easier.
He further states that treating asymptomatic celiac disease
will prevent many of its complications, and recommends that
children with diabetes mellitus be screened for possible celiac
disease with an antibody test and possible follow-up small bowel
biopsy.